Electric water-heater.



F. C. PERKINS. ELECTRLC WATER HEATER,

APPUCATION FILED DEC. 19H3.

Patented Apr. 24,1917.

#venan 4 K c? m F. C. PERKrNS..

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. l. 19H5.

mmm-ed Apr. 24,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. PERKINS, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-EIGHTH '10 GEORGE I. MEYER, ONE-EIGHTH T0 GEURGE H. MEYER, 0NE-EIGHTH TO LED P. MEYER, AND ONE-EIGHTH TO EUGENEMEYER, ALL OF BUFFALO,NEW YORK ELECTRIC 'WATERPHEATER Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24., 1917.

Application iiled December 1, 1916. Serial No. 134,291.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK C. FERKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buf- 4 falo in the. county .of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Water-Heaters, of which the followin is a specification.

' This invention re ates t0 an electric wats: heater and has the object to produce a heater of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, in which hot water and steam maybe produced with a minimum of electrical apparatus and in whichra water pipe rheostat is employed as'p'art of the electric circuit in connection with the main water storage tank and the circulating pipes connecting the same with the water rheostat.

In theuccompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one form of electric water heating apparatus which embodies my invention and in whichV a threewire two phase alternating current is employed as the source of electric energy for heating the water and producing steam. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another application of my invention in which the combined piping' and resistance water form part of-the electric circuit as a water rheostat and the' water inlet pipe connecting the water rhcostat with the'storage tankis constructed in the form of a coil.

, Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents a stor- 'age tank which is constructed of suitable metal and which is adapted to store the water which is heated in the lower part there,- of and the steam in its upper art. The steam may means o a delivery pipe 2 containing a valve 3? and leading to any suitable place Where the steam is to be consumed for any desired purpose, the pressure of the steam being indicated in any suitable manner, for instance by means of a'pressure gage a connected with the steam delivery pipe.

In the application of 'my invention, as Shown in Fig. 1, two. separate electric heat- I n 1 mg units are employed but 1t 1s to be understood that only one of'these units or a greater number than two may be employed, if desird. Each of these units comprises an up- .right watenheating chan'iser 5 which, in the `exemple shown in Fig. l, consists ofupper and-lower metallic heads or caps 6, 7 an inbe withdrawn from t is tank by tei-mediate tubular Vmetal body 8 arranged between said heads, and couplingvsleeves 9, 10 of'rubber or other suitable material connecting the upper and lower Iends, 0f the tubular body with the upper andV lower heads in such manner that water and steam tight joints are produced between the same but said body and heads are disconnected so Afar as metallic contact is concerned andelectrically insulated from each other.

11 represents a lower metal inlet pipe which contains a hand :Valve 12 for controlling the same and which is connected at one end with the lower part of the storage tank while its opposite end is connected with the lower head of the heating chamberand passes upwardly into the heating chamber but terminates shortlof the upper endthereof so as not to come in metallic contact' with i the upper head or the tubular body o f the heating chamber. At a point below the normalwater line ofthe heating chamber and the storage tank these two members are placed in communication with each other preferably by means of the metallic water outlet pipe 13 which is connected at one end with the water tankand'at its opposite end with the side of the u per head and is provided with a hand valve 14 for controlling the passage of the water through the same.

15 represents a steam pipe preferablyconstructe`d of metal and connected at one end? with the top of the upper head of the heating chamber and at its'opposite end with the storage tank above the water line therein and provided with a hand valve 16 for oontrolling the 4passage in this pipe.

17 represents an electric generator which in this instance 1s of the three wire two I phase alternating current type, one wire 18 being connected with the metallic water storage tank and grounded at 1%), while each of the otl er wires 2'0'is connected with the tubular metal body of onel of the heating.'

vmetal heads of theheatin chamber and the metal pipes connecting tie same with the ies metal storage tank and thence back t0 the opposite pole or terminal of the generator. The water within the heating chamber thus forms a water rheostat which is heated as the current of electricity passes through the same, thereby causing the water to circulate between the heating chamber and the storage tank bywreason of the lower inlet pipe and upper outlet pipe-connecting this chainber and tank so that ultimatelyr all the water in the several conduits is heated. Any steam which is generated in the upper part of the heating chamber Ais conducted by the steam pipe 15 into the upper part of the storage tank and mingles'with any steam .which may'be in this tank. The-water snpply to the storage tank may be replenished 1n any suitable manner, for instance by means of a sup'ply pipe 22 connecting with the lower part of the tank and provided with a valve 23 and hot water may be with- 'drawn from this tank for instance by means of a pipe 24 connecting with this tank below thewater line and provided with a valve E25, :is shown in Fig. 1.

:Byhav'mg several ot thesewater heating units connected with the storage tank` each stallation -of these 0f n. definite kilowatt capacity, the ont put of the heating plant as a whole may be adjusted .to any desired capacity. In -the inwater rheostats the amperes flowing in each water pipe will depend.u on the relative length and diameter of the )eating chamber and the length .and diameter of the water conducting pipes communicating with the same which fact must be taken into consideration when designing ii. Wateiheating and steam generating-plant of a definite capacity.- Thevalves 12, 14

and 16 lare preferably of the by-pass type so .that when the same are turned for shutting off communication between the heating and.

storage chambers the interior of the heating chamber will be placed in communication with the atii'iosphi rc. but when the heating and stonige-chamlaas are connected then the exit of the heating chamber to the atmosA phere is ciit oif.

Inllie construction of the electric water heating apparatus embodying my invention and Ashown in Fig. 2, the water heating .chamberiiili is arranged horizontally and comprises a tubular metal body or central section 27, two metallic headsor caps 18,

gli arranged atop ioste ends of the body' and insulating coup ing sleeves 2&0, Ill which connectthel'opposite ends 'ol the tubular body with saidheads. but electrically' insulate this body from said heads. 252' represents a metal wat-ei' inlet pipe mounted 'on one of the heads of the heating chamber. 'for example the head Q9.- antl extending axially inward to the cenlral 'part olt this ehainber. and rel'n'jese'nts a metal water outlet pipe mounted on the other head 2S of this haar ber and extending axially inward to a point adjacent to the central part of the chamber. No metallic connection exists between the inlet and outlet pipes 32, 33, within the heating chamber and the saine are also prevented' 70 from forming metallic contact with adjacent metal tubular body 27 by means of insulating sleeves 34 of rubber or the like'applied to the inner parts of the pipes 32, 33 so that if the same should be moved laterally by '75 any cause no metallic contact would be' produced between 'these pi )es and the inner surface of the metal tu ular body of-the heating chamber.A The outlet pipe is p'referably provided with a. liand''vnlve ior/go controlling the passage of water through the same. Y

3G represents a metal water ipe coil ar- 'ranged below the heating cham r and sup? portedin any suitablejmannerso thatthe saine is electrically insulated vfrom adjacent parts, for instance 'b v means of a plurality of insulating projections o'rl knobs 37 mount ed on a suitable support and engaging with the undersides of the several turns of this a hand valve 4() for controlling the admis-'100 sion of water tothe lower endwof the-coil. Above the. valve 40 thereturn pipe 'is con# nected with the lower part of the tank; 80`

by means of a metal pipe 41 j;contain ing ai.

controllingr valve "-12 while the'iip'pe'rpi'irt,M5195"V the return pipe is connected;withtl storage-tank' at a pointbelow th water level b v means-of' apipc-l'fl lt represents a steam-pipel 'con .imi valve 440 and connecting thethe metal head .Sxof the heati'n-g'fc ian'iber. j H with -the steam spacerin the upper part of the storage tank S0. this lasti'ne'ntioned VVA)ipe being constructed of -metal sections w iiclr-f.

ari` coni'iected by iiiean's of a sleeve," l5 of 115 insulating. material so' that a conduit) isA formed between the heating eli'ai'nber and"l -the' storage tank but. no electric 4cir'cuit established between the healiiig'chamberand'- the storage tank through this stean'i pipe.

ll'aler :nay be supplied to"thestorage tank through a pipe ll entering the lower part thereof and containing a vulve fl .and hol water may he \\'ithdrawn from the saine ilirongha pipe :la connecting with this tank below the water line anl containing :i valve lf). Steam may be withdrawn from tlie'upper pa rt 'of this storage' laiik aud delivered to any suitable'place by means of a p ipe 50 containing a valve Eiland the pressure within this tank may be observed by means of a pressure gage connecting with the steam pipe. i

. represents an electric generator of any suitable construction, preferably of the three wire two phase type, which generates an alternating circuit and which has one of its wires 54 grounded, as shown at 55 while its i second wire 56 is connected with the tubular body 27 and provided witha switch 57 and its thirdwire 5S is preferably connected in a manner as will later appear and provided with a switch 59.

In the operation of the'apparatus illus- '5 trated in Fig. 2 the current passes from the -contact 61 with a fixed contact 60 of a lower 7 coil then less of this part of the heatin in series with a change coil will be include `in resistance of the electric circuit and-a correspondingly changed heating effect upon the water willbe produced by the passage 7 of the electric current through this'coil.

If desired an electric heater similar'to that shown in Fig. 1 may be placed inthe line 58, and as shown in Fig. 2, the same may comprise a a central metal tubular section or body 63,-

lieating chamber 62' having so y generator through a wire 56 to the tubular body 27 of the heating chamber, .thence through the water contained within the saine, thence through the `central inlet pipe 32, heating coil 36, return pipe 38 and branch pipes 41, 43 to the. storage tank 4and lthence by the wire 58 back to the opposite pole of the generator. The water 'within the heating chamber in -this construction '25 also operates as a rheostat and is heated by the passage of the current through the same so that a cii'c'ulatiomof the water is by this means eifected which causes the same to pass successively through the heating chamber, 30 storage tank, the coil, and the piping connecting these members. The steam generated within the heating chamber is conducted .from the upper part of the heating .chaiiiber-tofl the upper part of `the storage tank when the saine joins any steam which may be .generated in the latter.

lly increasing or decreasing the length or diameter of the inlet p ipe 32 which is ai'- ranged within the heating chamber the 40 amount of current carried by the saine may Abe varied and its heating effect in connection with the water surrounding the same as a i'lieostat may be varied accordingly.

As the 'curreiit of electricitypasses through the metal of the heating coil the saine operates additionally as a means for heating the water passing through the same and thereby increases the heating capacity of this apparatus accordingly. In order to .permit ofafarying the lieatingeffect o this coil t'o suit different. conditions, a switch upper and lower metal heads 64, 65, electric insulating sleevesv 66, 67 connecting the heads and body, a water inlet pipe 68 conf nected with the lower head and placing the interiors of the heating chamber 62 and storage tank 80 in communication and provided with a valve 69, a water outlet pipe 70 connesting' the upper head 64 with the tank 80 and containing a valve 71, and a steam outlet pipe 72 connecting the upper .head 64 with the storage tankV 80 and'v containing a valve 73. The operation of this lastmentioned heater is the same as that shown in Fig. 1. The wire 58 is connected 'with the 95 body 63 and both the tank 80 and the heads 64,7 65 connected therewith are grounded This electric water heating apparatus isvery'simple in construction and requiresbut 10o few electrical elements in its organization, ordinary pipe fittings being readily used in its construction, thereby permitting of heating water and generating steam at comparativel low cost and witlfout Arequiring an expensive installation.

I claim as my invention: y

1. A water heating apparatus comprising a. metal steam and water tank, a Water pipe` coil having its oplposite ends connected respectiv'ely with t e upper and lower. parte. i of said tank and having a metal section` which is insulated from those parts :of the coil which are connected withn said tank, and a source of electric energy having its terminals connected ,respectively with said mechanism is provided whereby more or less insulated metal Conduit Section and said of this heating coil may be connected in se' metal tank. r ries with the water rheostat while other4 2. A water heating apparatus compris- 55 parts of the saine are shunted or cut out of img a metal water tank, a water pipe coil 120 this circuit. A. suitable means fon this purhavinU two metal end sections which are pose consists of a movable switch contact 61 electrically connected with the upper and connected with the upper end ot' the heating lower parts, respectively, of said water'tank, coil and adapted to engage with one or anand an intermediate metal section communiso other of a plurality of fixed switch contacts eating withsaid metalend sections but elec- 60 which latter are connected with different trically insulated therefrom, and a source of electric energy having its terniinals conparts of the heating coil throughout the i length thereof. By engaging the movable nected, respectively, with said intermediate switch contact 61 with a fixed contact 60 section,4 and said tank. i 65 connected with the upper pai-t ofthe coil, a 3.' Af water .heating apparatus comprising 1;'0

a metal water tank, a heating chamber comprising two metal heads communicating,

respectively, with the upper and lower parts of said tank and a tubular body connected at opposite ends with said heads but electrically insulated therefrom, land a source of electric energy having its poles connected., respectively, with said tubular body and said water tank.

4. A water heating apparatus comprising a metal Water tank, a heating chamber comprising two metal heads and a tubular metal body connected at opposite ends with Said heads but electrically insulated therefrom, a metal inlet pipe connecting the lower part of said'tank with the lower head of said chamber, a metal outlet pipe connecting the upper part of said metal tank with the upper head of said chamber, and a source of electric energy having'A its terminals connected, respectively, with said metal 'tank andsaid body.

5. A water heating apparatus comprising a metal water tank, -a heating che` r oomrising two metal heads and a tubular metal 'body connected at opposite ends with said heads but electrically insulated therefrom, a metal inlet pipe connecting the lower part of said tank with the lower head of said chamber, a metal .Outlet-pipe connecting the upper part of said meta. tank with the upper head of said chamber, one of said pipes projecting into said heating chamber, and .a source of electric energy having its ter- 'more remote from sai minals connected, respectively, with" said metal tank and said body.

(i. A. water heating apparatus comprising a metal water tank, a heating chamber comprising two metal heads and a tubular metal ody connected at opposite ends with said heads but electrically insulated therefrom, a

metal inlet pipe connecting the lower part of said tank with the lower head of said a metal water tank, a heating chamber com` pgising two metal heads and a tubular metal dy connected 'at opposite ends with said heads but electrically insulated therefrom, a metal inlet pipe connecting one end of said tank with one head of said chamber, a metal outlet pipe connectingthe other end of said metal tank with the other head of Said chamber, said inlet pipe being constructed in the form of a coil, means for electrically connecting said inlet -pipe adjacent to said chamber with different chamber, and a source of electric energy having its terminals connected, respectively, with said-metalv body.

tank and said y 4 FRANK C.' PERKINS.

(parts 4of said coil 

